The new bail laws will make it more difficult for people with links to violent extremists to be granted bail when charged with serious criminal offences.

Mr Baird said in the Facebook post: "We are introducing new laws to ensure that, except in the most exceptional circumstances, anyone with links to terrorism or violent extremism, including returned foreign fighters, will be refused bail."

In addition, an accused person's links to terrorist organisations, or statements or actions advocating support for terrorist activities and/or violent extremism, must now be taken into account as part of the "unacceptable risk" test for bail.

An accused person's association or affiliation with persons or groups who advocate support for terrorist activities and/or violent extremism, must also be taken into account in the test for bail.

Baird's changes 'a slippery slope towards authoritarianism'

Along with a tightening of the bail laws, the Government has announced the creation of the Illegal Firearms Investigation and Reward Scheme which will offer "rewards of up to $10,000 for information that leads to a conviction for the possession and use of illegal firearms".

"And we are offering further funding for police investigations of illegal firearms, including undercover operations," Mr Baird said in the post.

Offenders who possess a stolen firearm will face a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment, under a newly created offence.

A maximum 14 years' imprisonment for offences relating to unauthorised possession, use, supply or acquisition of firearms will also be introduced.

"If he is saying that a person who simply thinks or writes something that may be seen as vaguely sympathetic to a terrorist organisation ... ought to be behind bars, then he is sending New South Wales down a very slippery slope towards authoritarianism," he said.

The State Opposition said the changes were common sense.

"Anybody who has been caught up in surveillance and been assessed by the security agencies as being a risk of carrying out a terrorist-related offence should not be given any benefit of the doubt," Labor leader Luke Foley said.